NCJ Number
152676
Journal
Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (October 1994) Pages: 2-23
Date Published
1994
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Data from 197 first offenders in the Athens, Ga., area from January 1992 through June 1993 formed the basis of an analysis of the risk factors associated with juvenile first offending and an effort to develop an intervention based on the data on these offenders and their families.
Abstract
The risk assessment used a structured interview that focused on demographic characteristics, age at first court referral, offense seriousness, parental supervision, school functioning, peer group adequacy, alcohol and drug use, and level of criminal involvement in the family. A brief family self-report measure was also used. Results indicated that several risk factors are related to each other and include family, school, and peer factors. The association of some factors with the social context of youth experience provides a rationale for using family-based intervention. The Family Solutions Program was developed as the intervention and has now operated through eight cycles, each lasting 10 weeks and consisting of weekly evening meetings. The program used solution-focused therapy, collaborative expressions of ideas by families, flexibility, a focus on relevant issues such as family finances and premarital sex, a celebratory context, and the use of community facilitators. Family therapy is also available. Tables and 46 references